Douglas Smith

Douglas Smith is an acclaimed American historian and author specializing in Russian history. His gripping and meticulously researched works bring some of history's most fascinating figures and events to life. His landmark biography "Rasputin" offers an authoritative and compelling portrait of the infamous mystic who captivated — and ultimately destabilized — the Romanov court. In "The Russian Job," Smith turns his attention to one of history's greatest humanitarian efforts, recounting the dramatic American mission to save millions from famine in the early Soviet era. A former U.S. diplomat, Smith combines scholarly rigor with vivid storytelling to make history irresistibly readable.